Santa Anita: Twice the Appeal attempts marathon in Tokyo City

Twice the Appeal, 10th in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, will start in the longest race of his career in Saturday’s $100,000 Tokyo City Cup over 1 1/2 miles on Santa Anita's main track.

Trained by Jeff Bonde, Twice the Appeal has made three subsequent starts since the Kentucky Derby, including a seventh in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. A 4-year-old colt, Twice the Appeal won the Sunland Park Derby in a 25-1 upset in March 2011.

The Tokyo City Cup drew a field of eight, including Eldaafer, the winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Churchill Downs. The Tokyo City Cup will be Eldaafer’s first start in California for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Last month, Eldaafer was fourth as the 6-5 favorite in the Turf Paradise Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Open Water out with leg injury

Open Water, third in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on March 3, emerged from the race with a bone crack in a shin, Guillot said.

“She’s on the shelf,” Guillot said.

Open Water is likely to return to training in coming months and will not require surgery, Guillot said.

I’ll Have Another on target for Santa Anita Derby

I’ll Have Another, the winner of the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4 in a 43-1 upset, worked seven furlongs in 1:26.20 at Hollywood Park on Wednesday.

Owned by Paul Reddam and trained by Doug O’Neill, I’ll Have Another is being pointed for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7, scheduled to be his final prep for the Kentucky Derby.